Groundwater in New York County contains manganese, iron, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from your well.
The rock beneath New York County naturally releases iron and manganese into groundwater. Urban and industrial land use over decades has added chloride, nitrate, and sulfate through road salt, waste disposal, and city infrastructure.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with elevated calcium and magnesium from the underlying rock, combined with very high iron and high sodium that further shape the water's character. These minerals concentrate here because the fractured and weathered rock releases them steadily, and the dense urban environment contributes additional salts and metals. These mineral signatures appear consistently across wells throughout the county.
County wells here exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate. Nitrate can harm infants and interfere with oxygen in the blood. Chloride and sulfate at high levels can act as laxatives and cause digestive problems. Iron and manganese can affect the stomach and intestines. These contaminants require attention to protect your family's health.
The very hard water and high iron in county wells create orange or rust-colored staining on clothes, sinks, and fixtures. Water may taste salty, metallic, or bitter. Scale builds up on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. Very hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers, costing you money on replacements.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to learn what is actually in your well, since every well is different and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what treatment your well needs. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or ion exchange softening can address multiple concerns.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 33 | 85% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 33 | 79% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 34 | 59% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 34 | 18% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 34 | 3% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 34 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 34 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 16 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 34 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 34 | — | Moderate | Low |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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